Evaluation of Tilapia Culture Practices and Profitability in Government Demonstration Farms in Plateau State

Government demonstration farms are intended to serve as model sites for disseminating improved aquaculture technologies to smallholder farmers, yet their operational effectiveness and financial viability are rarely systematically evaluated. This study evaluates the tilapia culture practices, production performance, and economic profitability of tilapia operations at four government demonstration fish farms in Jos, Shendam, Pankshin, and Langtang in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Data were collected through direct farm observation, operational record review, and interviews with farm managers and attending extension officers over a six-month production cycle. Parameters assessed included pond management practices, feeding regimes, stocking densities, water quality monitoring frequency, disease incidence, harvest yields, and financial accounts. Results revealed significant variation in management quality and production outcomes across the four sites. Two sites recorded positive gross margins from tilapia production, while two operated at a loss due to high labour costs and below-target harvest yields attributable to inconsistent feeding and inadequate water exchange. Average production cost across all sites was 1,240 Naira per kilogram of fish, against a local market price of 1,650 Naira per kilogram, theoretically yielding a positive margin in consistently managed operations. The study recommends a performance improvement framework for government demonstration farms in Plateau State that includes standardised production protocols, quarterly financial audits, and farmer training programme tracking as key accountability mechanisms.

Keywords: tilapia culture, demonstration farm, profitability, Plateau State, production management